DON'T DENEGRATE BOWIE, MAN!

2014: The garbage fire uses a Blackberry 

      Cathryn’s been to Hell. She’s seen a lot of things and it would take a lot to actually scare her anymore. She leans her hand forward to light it on his fire, nodding in thanks as she takes a drag. “I’m sure it won’t be the cigarettes that’ll kill me.” 

     “Whatever you say, kid. ‘Scuse me.” He closed his fist and extinguished the flame as he walked past the gutsy stranger, heading straight for an old auto garage. The place hadn’t seen legitimate business in ages. Lately, it was just used a base for one of the local gangs. Strangely enough, the lookouts didn’t see him coming, even with the road flare of a head he had. It was only when he was practically on top of them did they notice him, and by then it was too late. One haymaker and a penance stare later, he kicked down the front door to the gang banger’s little clubhouse. It was like time stopped. He could see the gangsters rotate through different stages of confusion, disbelief, and then outright terror. Finally, either one of the bravest of them or the stupidest got up the nerve to squeeze the trigger of the gun in his hands and his the Rider in the chest right over where his heart should be. The flaming hellion glanced at the new holes in his jacket and locked eyes with the kid, completely unaffected. “I’m taking that right out of your hide, dumbass.” And with that, the fun began.

Ghost Rider by Mike Mahle

( WHO IS IN CONTROL? )

                ❝ They’ve fought like this before?                      You mean that time that Cap got shot?                      Or was it like a different time? So what                      we just like let them rip themselves apart? ❞

     “Yep, that’s the one. And don’t be so dramatic, kid. They’re not gonna rip each other apart. They’re just gonna scuffle for a while, then maybe one side’ll go underground, and there’ll be a whole big thing about hunting them down which also takes away from hunting real bad guys. Then a couple months later there’s gonna be a big invasion or something and they’ll band together again and cry and get all emotional and everythin’ will be fine.”

                          ❝ Maybe, we should do something? ❞

     “Do what? Beat up on a bunch of good guys who’re bein’ dumbasses? You can, if you want, but I ain’t. I been through this kinda crap once before. It was a shitshow from start to finish and I can tell this’s gonna be worse. Best to just sit it out.”

       Perhaps, this would be a good time to leave. But when has Cathryn ever been known to do what’s best? She holds out a cigarette between her fingers. “Can I get a light?” 

     This one’s got balls. Had to respect that. Most regular folks tend to soil themselves when they catch him like this. Since she didn’t show any signs of backing off, he held out his hand, and before you could say “Burning Man,” there was a mini bonfire dancing in his palm. “Those things’ll kill you, you know.”